Goal setting and mindfullness?

[need2learn]

I was just introduced to mindfulness from a book called the Practicing Mind. I was looking for a way to make the process of work and daily life less frustrating.

This book helped me learn about focusing on the process at hand and being present. Focusing on my breath and concentrating on just doing the work and not trying to enjoy it or feel bad but just be.

Which led me to further studying on mindfulness.

My issue comes with goals. I have many goals I want to accomplish that are very important to me. I am a big follower of Napoleon Hill and others who speak about keep your goals in your mind often as this helps give you the desire to get to your goals. Which helps me take action consistently but, hurts me in the short term everyday tasks. This is because I am constantly reminded of how far I have to go and to move past the point I am at.

In the Practicing Mind the author has different approach of process driven and thinking of your goals occasionally.


Can the two ideas coexist? If so how?

subs
Thinking about goals and results helps me take action but, hurts me in actual task because I'm reminded how far I'm from my goals

I hope this is the right forum for my post Im new here so I apologize if its not. I would appreciate any help though, thanks.

[piedwagtail91]

there's nothing wrong with having goals, but it's how you see and relate to them.
from your post it sounds as if you're striving, judging how far away from your goal you are.
mindfulness is about accepting things as they are in the moment, the here and now.
striving and judging will just lead to more unhappiness dissatisfaction of your present situation.
the 7 pillars of mindfulness area good guide to how to live.
http://allansousa.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/the-seven-pillars-of-mindfulness/

[need2learn]

there's nothing wrong with having goals, but it's how you see and relate to them.
from your post it sounds as if you're striving, judging how far away from your goal you are.
mindfulness is about accepting things as they are in the moment, the here and now.
striving and judging will just lead to more unhappiness dissatisfaction of your present situation.
the 7 pillars of mindfulness area good guide to how to live.
http://allansousa.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/the-seven-pillars-of-mindfulness/

Thanks for the reply. I am judging where I am like you said.

Would you consider goals should be process driven or producr driven?.

Can the two coexist or should it not matter

Again thanks for the help and the orevios article.

[JonW]

"This is because I am constantly reminded of how far I have to go and to move past the point I am at."
This would run counter to the principles of mindfulness which is about awareness of the present moment.
I'd suggest reading Jon Kabat-Zinn's Coming To Our Senses to get a fuller picture of what mindfulness is about.
Jon

[piedwagtail91]

striving to a goal, isn't mindfulness.
i have goals in yoga , but i don't strive.
when i started yoga a couple of years ago i was amazed at the stuff others could do and would have liked to do it myself.
(mindful) yoga taught me that striving is counter productive, strive in yoga and you pull something and go backwards.
so i've waited and still had a goal and on monday i managed to get my 'hands in prayer' behind my back.
never once strived for it ,just kept practicing and was gobsmacked when i managed it.
allowing things to unfold is for me the best way.

if you want to put in in a work related way then i spent 25 or so years striving to get back to work after an accident, pushing myself as hard as i could for almost all of that time.
after one mindfulness course and some compassion therapy and no striving i can manage a few hours of voluntary work a few times a week.now 3 years on i'm starting to look for part time, by letting things unfold, having goals but not chasing them.
you can't really be mindful and constantly chasing goals.you're never at peace.

[JonW]

It can get a bit confusing this issue.
With mindfulness, one needs to be wary of turning the practice into another form of striving. In essence, it's not about getting anywhere. It's about being present, right here, right now. Rather than ruminating on the past or speculating on the future.
That's not to say that you need to forget all about ambitions, just avoid obsessing about goals.
For instance, I'm planning to train as a mindfulness teacher within the next year. Qualifying as a teacher is a goal, obviously. But there's little I need to do other than sign up for a course and arrange dog care when I need to attend classes. That can all be done mindfully.
To do it non-mindfully would involve me worrying and obsessing about every detail.
Hope that makes some sense.
Cheers,
Jon

[Gareth]

I have goals too.

The difference is these days, that I notice far more often when I begin to think about these goals. At the point that I notice, I ask myself if this line of thinking is achieving anything? If not, then I bring myself back. If the line of thinking is " look how far away from this goal I am" then I would certainly bring myself back from this.

[need2learn]

First Thanks for all the replies.

I think I understand mindfulness a little better. I was trying to use it a tool to make the time between goal achievement less stressful.

From what I'm getting that may not be the full use which I suspected.

I am still worried losing my ambition by going through the process of mindfulness.

I picked up the book http://www.amazon.com/Work-Find-Meaning-Each-Hour-ebook/dp/B00APDAWHI/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

So im trying to figure it out. Thanks

[JonW]

Excellent choice of book.
Thich Nhat Hanh is an inspirational writer.
In my experience, mindfulness has made me think far more clearly about changes I need to make in my life. My mind is far less cluttered these days. When I make a decision, I tend to do it from a place of calm and clarity, rather than the muddy confusion of before.
Again, goals are fine as they go. From time to time we all need to adapt to changes in our lives and make decisions to facilitate those changes. It's when we obsess about goals that the problems kick in. If your life is all about goals, then you'll be constantly thinking of the next thing, the next thing…meanwhile, the present moment never gets a look in.
By all means make plans. But take care to live your life too, and take pleasure in it. And be careful that mindfulness doesn't become another form of striving…
Cheers,
Jon, Hove

[need2learn]

Again thanks for all the replys that balance between the two is what Im trying to learn